Crawley Claims Ignorance of Captain Stokes' Provocative 'Frail Characters' Comments

The English opener Crawley suggested he was not familiar with comments from captain Ben Stokes regarding the team environment not being "those lacking fortitude".

The all-rounder made those words in multiple interviews following his team's defeat in the second Ashes against Australia earlier this month.

In the lead-up to the third Test, where the visitors are staring at a series loss at the earliest opportunity, Stokes stated he had allowed his sentiment to "drift around" within the playing group.

"I've done the necessary discussions in recent days that I needed to have done," remarked the England leader.

However, following the opener scored 85 on the fourth day in Adelaide, he stated: "I didn't see that."

"I wasn't actively searching for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with some skepticism," he added.

Raw Conversations and Steady Philosophy

The captain made the "weak men" comment after his side were beaten in Brisbane to go 2-0 down.

The team afterwards went on a holiday to Noosa in the gap between the second and the upcoming Tests.

Prior to the Adelaide contest, he said his team had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their effort to stay alive in the series.

Yet, the Kent batsman stated the guidance from Stokes and coach McCullum had remained consistent with their previous three years in leadership.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. It felt like we were capable of an extraordinary feat going into this game."

The Hosts Close of Rapid Ashes Triumph

Crawley's wicket late on Saturday came during a decisive triple-strike by Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon's three wickets in 20 deliveries – including the wickets of Harry Brook and Stokes himself – meant England 207-6 in pursuit of a notional total of 435.

Consequently, the home team need just four more wickets on Sunday's final day to secure an unassailable three-nil lead with three Tests.

Defeat would prolong the English team's winless run in this country to 18 consecutive matches and ensure a fourth straight away Ashes series defeat.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of cricket – with England losing the initial matches in rapid time each.

Not since 1921, when Australia sealed victory in England in eight days, has the destination of the Ashes urn been determined more swiftly. Australia have also triumphed in eleven days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disappointing," said Crawley. "We came here to regain the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel now."

"There will still be plenty to play for and we will definitely view it like that," he continued.

"The challenge has been difficult. Australia is a very, very good team. It was always going to be tough touring here to face them. They were the front-runners and they've proven why."

Pope's Position Under Scrutiny

Although the opener's performance in the third Test probably answers questions about his immediate future in the England team, Ollie Pope looks under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in England's second innings on day four, adding to his poor record versus the old enemy.

In sixteen Ashes knocks, the Surrey man has failed to score a fifty and averages 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a lower average.

But, Crawley said any notion his teammate is under the microscope originates with "the media" – meaning the press – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "He has had a good year if I'm honest."

"He has produced some really good knocks. It is noise externally. There's no discussion of that nature regarding Pope amongst the players," Crawley concluded.